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I would be concerned about having this checked more carefully if you are noticing air scratching and it continues which is pretty much only associated with SM and is a quite distinctive sign -- and it isn;t normal). That said many dogs will spend their entire lives doing nothing more than this type of occasional scratching and are not really bothered at all. But if things progress to where the scratching is really bothersome or other signs also show up, there are things you can do. My dog Leo, who has SM, is on gabapentin, which controls the scratching, for example. He is the dog in video clip 1.

Only a neurologist can diagnose syringomyelia (SM) though. Normally if a vet can find nothing else wrong to be causing the scratching amd other signs, and they keep getting worse and/or the dog starts to show pain, he will refer you to a vet neurologist.

Probably the biggest indicator or the proverbial last straw, for me was the "bunny hop" or "air scratching" when we were walking. Once I saw that I knew I needed to get an answer. Molly had never done that before. Fortunately once we switched to a harness, the scratching while outdoors has all but stopped.